Values Driving Value

I have been wrestling with why BombBomb does what it does since its inception and I keep coming back to why I do what I do. This always leads me to core values. How do you connect fluffy dreams (core values) to day to day business (what bombbomb does). This is challenging but let me break it down the way I see it.

What is BombBomb?
BombBomb, LLC is a Limited Liability Corporation.

What is a Limited Liability Corporation?
The word "corporation" derives from corpus, the Latin word for body, or a "body of people." Despite not being natural persons, corporations are recognized by the law to have rights and responsibilities like natural persons ("people"). Corporations can exercise human rights against real individuals and the state. Thank you Wikipedia.

BombBomb is a Body of people that can exercise rights and responsibilities against individuals and the state.

As leader of this body of people I believe it my responsibility to clearly layout how we exercise these rights and responsibilities. With your help, we will evolve it.

What are Core Values?
Core Values prescribe the attitude and character of an organization.

When people are grounded in core values it gives them a set of guidelines on which to make decisions. When you think about it, the core values or the way you view the world is hugely influential to the outcome of your decisions and your life. That is why I believe this to be so important.

The Core Values of BombBomb and why We Do what We Do.

1.People
People have intrinsic value. Whether a customer, employee, partner, vendor, owner or fellow citizen of this great big world we all share, we love our neighbors and we implore others to do the same. Relationships with these people are the foundation of our business. Relationships are built upon conversation – active listening and honest feedback. Our business is all about people and helping people reach their goals!

2.Have Fun
When we laugh more we live longer. When you enjoy coming to work it makes it so much more. Have fun! We only have one shot at this life, why not have fun doing it?

3.Purpose
Purpose must be discovered and fulfilled. Each of us has purpose and exists to live out fully this purpose. Ask yourself why am I here? What is my purpose?

4.Do More with Less
Stewardship of resources: people and relationships are of utmost importance in responsible decision-making – from the way we spend money to the way we treat people. We will be held responsible for the resources we are given. Treat them that way. Since the beginning we have run this company out of houses and coffee shops. We have always done what it takes. Always strive to do more with less.

5.Doing the Right Thing
Always take the long-term view, a long-term approach. This means that BombBomb is committed to doing whatever it takes to do the right thing. It matters in the end. This may not be the most popular approach but this is who we are. P.S. Good Wins.

6.Be Humble
There is always another side to the story or a different angle. Always listen first. Then listen again. Do not think you have everything figured out because usually you don’t.

7.Consistently Learn
Read, watch, and be in relationship with people, have conversations – LEARN both personally and professionally. We will not always get it right but if we don’t learn from our mistakes we will not get better.

8. Be Change
As someone once told me “You have to be moving to make moves.” If you are not consistently changing you will be left behind. Think like you are a Change Agent because when you work at BombBomb you are.

9. Tell Stories
A brilliant sales person once told me, “Facts tell but Stories sell”. Be a good storyteller. You are human, tell me a story.

10. Give Gifts
Practice giving gifts. It does not have to be big. As my wife always reminds me, it is not the gift, it is the thought behind it. Give gifts whether time, materials or spirit.


As we grow BombBomb I want everyone to know what our core values are. As leader of this company I wholeheartedly believe in living these out personally and professionally. As Ghandi said, “you must be the change you seek”. From this day forward if anyone sees any discrepancy in the way we do business that conflicts with our core values, please tell me and I will change it. I take full responsibility for the attitude and character of this organization. As a person and a company we make mistakes. It will be what we do with those mistakes that will define us.

Please comment and let me know that you read this and what you think.

This is the story of when I almost died!

Player by BombBomb

Video I created while bottling wine in Walla Walla

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Draught causing Record Food Prices in Kenya

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Own your TV

This is a great video by GaryVee about your domain and how important it is. I myself am playing catch up.

Are you a Daytrader or a Talented Musician?

I was reading a blog post by Jon Dale yesterday and I thought it was very profound considering everything that is going on in the world.

The title of the post was "The Long Line" and the premise of the post was that if we live our lives as Daytraders, the ups and downs of the day are going to give us a perspective of a roller coaster. Our emotions will get the best of us and we will react to life as it comes, instead of looking at the big picture of our lives and our purposes.

On the other hand if we live our lives as a Talented Musician, when the mistakes come no one notices because "they don't skip a beat". They look at the bigger picture or "the long line".

My hope is that you will focus on becoming that Talented Musician because the world sure needs them more than just another daytrader.

Legacy and Purpose in your Life

Unlike any other year the thoughts of what "legacy" means to me has been constantly on my mind. Whether it is when I am visiting with my Grandmother, to writing the values of the company I lead. Legacy and purpose was a constant this year.

Recently I finished the HBO mini-series John Adams and a quote struck me to the core. It impacted me so much that I stopped the DVD and wrote it down. The quote came at a dinner party in France where Adams and Franklin were raising support for the war with the British. The hostess of the party turned to Adams and asked if he studied painting and poetry. Adams replied that he did not. The French exploded with laughter and started whispering to each other in French. Adams not speaking a lick of French quickly replied, "I MUST study politics and war, you see, so that my sons will have the LIBERTY to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons MUST study navigation, commerce and agriculture, so that their children will have the RIGHT to study painting, poetry, and music.

This struck me not only as an American with patriotism but as a man with an urgency to have such a purpose. For someone to have such a sense of purpose and legacy to be able to envision the legacy that he is leaving to his grandchildren.

Like no time in history are our lives so documented. Generations from now, people will be able to find all of the pictures, articles, and videos about our lives. What will you say. I challenge you to get involved, start blog, start a discussion, or add the pictures of your life. Take that first step toward leaving that legacy.